Ground beetle fauna of flower strips and forest edges in northern German lowlands' conventional agricultural landscapes (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

BACKGROUND

Ground beetles are present in most terrestrial ecosystems and fulfil key functions, especially as many species are important predators, contributing to natural pest control in agricultural landscapes. However, intensive agriculture, which combines monocultures and synthetic inputs, has been shown to have negative effects on insect diversity and abundance. To counteract insect decline, numerous measures are being implemented and tested at national scales. These also include flower strips which might have the potential to provide suitable habitats and connect beneficial insects' populations across agricultural landscapes. Especially if flower strips are located along forest edges, they could reinforce synergy functions and, by that, reduce the barrier effect of conventional agricultural fields. Within the framework of a two-year project, ground beetles were assessed in corn fields [, Linnaeus 1753], grown for biogas production, with or without a two-seed mixture flower strip as well as in the adjacent forest. Study sites were situated within conventional fields typical for the agricultural landscapes in northern German lowlands in direct proximity to the Nature Reserve Lüneburger Heide.

NEW INFORMATION

We provide data on 34,413 specimens belonging to 93 ground beetle species. None of these species is evaluated in the IUCN Red List at the European level, but four species have been classified as being within Germany. At the level of the Federal State Lower Saxony, four species are classified as , nine species as and one as , highlighting the importance of this dataset also for conservation purposes.This dataset contributes to the knowledge of Central European carabid diversity and distribution, especially within agricultural landscapes. It supports the development of national and European Red Lists. Despite all sites being placed within conventional corn fields, the study area is in direct proximity to the Nature Reserve Lüneburger Heide where threatened heath landscapes exhibit rare carabid species, which could possibly benefit from adapted agricultural management strategies at its borders or even disperse via suitable corridors provided.